Sergio Fernández (footballer, born 1977) explained

Sergio
Fullname:Sergio Fernández González
Birth Date:23 May 1977
Birth Place:Avilés, Spain
Height:1.910NaN0
Position:Centre back
Youthyears1:1992–1994
Youthclubs1:Sporting Gijón
Years1:1994–1996
Caps1:51
Goals1:2
Years2:1996–1999
Caps2:84
Goals2:2
Years3:1999–2006
Caps3:130
Goals3:4
Years4:2006–2008
Caps4:55
Goals4:1
Years5:2008–2012
Caps5:81
Goals5:4
Years6:2012
Caps6:1
Goals6:0
Totalcaps:402
Totalgoals:13
Nationalyears1:1997–2000
Nationalcaps1:12
Nationalgoals1:0

Sergio Fernández González (born 23 May 1977), known simply as Sergio, is a Spanish former footballer who played as a central defender.

In 16 years as a professional, he played mainly for Celta and Osasuna, starting and ending his career with Sporting de Gijón. He appeared in 295 La Liga matches over 15 seasons, scoring nine goals.

Club career

A tall, lanky defender, Sergio was born in Avilés, Asturias, and emerged through Sporting de Gijón's youth system, making his first appearance for the main squad on 7 January 1996 in a 3–2 home win against UD Salamanca.[1] He would play three further seasons as first choice, with the club being relegated from La Liga in 1998.

Sergio joined RC Celta de Vigo in the summer of 1999, being a somewhat important defensive figure in the Galicians' domestic and European consolidation. After relegation at the end of the 2003–04 campaign (19 games played), he contributed with one goal in a 2–1 home victory over Xerez CD on 9 January 2005 as the side eventually returned to the top division, and continued to appear prominently as they immediately achieved a UEFA Cup position.[2]

Sergio moved to Real Zaragoza for 2006–07, reuniting with former Celta manager Víctor Fernández and teammate Juanfran[3] and playing 28 matches en route to another sixth place in the league, which again led to the UEFA Cup. However, in spite of his late equaliser against Real Madrid on 11 May 2008, in a 2–2 home draw, the Aragonese were relegated at the end of his second year.[4]

In mid-November 2008, Sergio signed with CA Osasuna until the end of the top-flight season, as the Navarrese lost Rovérsio for its duration due to a serious knee injury in a Copa del Rey tie against Getafe CF. He received the Brazilian's No. 16 jersey.[5]

The veteran continued to be regularly used the following years, under both José Antonio Camacho and his successor José Luis Mendilibar.[6] On 6 March 2011, he headed home a 92nd-minute corner kick in a 1–0 away defeat of Málaga CF in what was his team's first away win of the campaign.[7]

On 20 June 2012, after having contributed one goal[8] from 20 appearances to help Osasuna retain their league status, the 35-year-old Sergio signed for two years with former club Sporting, in turn relegated to the second division.[9] Only four months later, however, he decided to retire due to a chronic injury.[10]

Notes and References

  1. http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1996/01/08/pagina-26/1324473/pdf.html El Sporting respira (Sporting breathe)
  2. http://www.yojugueenelcelta.com/2008/05/sergio-fernndez.html SERGIO FERNÁNDEZ
  3. http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=433673.html Fernández lands former charges
  4. https://archive.today/20130102212309/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=226412&cc=5739 Real Zaragoza 2–2 Real Madrid
  5. http://www.osasuna.es/dev/actualidad/ultimasnoticias/osasuna-llega-a-un-acuerdo-por-sergio-fernandez Osasuna llega a un acuerdo por Sergio Fernández (Osasuna reach agreement for Sergio Fernández)
  6. https://www.marca.com/2011/10/20/futbol/equipos/osasuna/1319112878.html Sergio: "Mendilibar unió a afición y equipo" (Sergio: "Mendilibar united fans and team")
  7. https://archive.today/20120721122840/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/302120?cc=5739 Fernandez breaks Osasuna duck in dramatic style
  8. https://www.marca.com/2011/12/18/futbol/1adivision/1324234571.html El Reyno de la alegría (Kingdom ("Reyno" in English, pun on ground's name) of joy)
  9. http://www.realsporting.com/wrsg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1391:este-jueves-presentacion-oficial-de-sergio-fernandez-en-mareo&catid=36:actualidad&Itemid=186 Sergio Fernández presentado oficialmente en Mareo (Sergio Fernández officially presented in Mareo)
  10. http://www.realsporting.com/wrsg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1933:sergio-fernandez-decide-dejar-el-futbol&catid=36:actualidad&Itemid=186 Sergio Fernández decide dejar el fútbol (Sergio Fernández decides to quit football)